Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar Specs and Review

Playing the guitar is intimidating, especially for a newbie. One of the secrets to learning the basics quickly is to choose the right instrument. With this, Cordoba has you covered! In this Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar review, I will talk about its specs and features, so you can decide if this is the right guitar for you.

The Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar is a Spanish-style string instrument that targets beginners on a budget. It has a lightweight construction with a spruce top, and a mahogany neck finished with gloss polyurethane. It is available in two versions – full size and ¾ size – both of which can deliver superior performance, especially considering its price point.

Read on to learn more about the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar, including its features, as well as some of its pros and cons.

About the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar

Cordoba is one of the most popular names in the market for nylon string guitars. From traditional craftsmanship to modern technologies, their instruments stand out. Every product is a result of rich Spanish heritage. They have a wide selection of guitars, including the following:

Fusion 5
Mini II
C4
C5
C9
C10
Requinto
Cadete
Dolce
Friedrich
Esteso

While you have a long list of options for acoustic guitars from Cordoba, in this review, I will focus on C1. The latter is a part of the Protégé series. It is for aspiring young players looking for an easy-to-play classical guitar. More than being user-friendly, they are also affordable, so there’s no reason why you should not consider buying one.

Main Features of the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar

This section lists some of the notable features of the Cordoba C1 acoustic guitar, providing buyers with compelling reasons to choose it over many others:

1. Spruce Body Top

One of the best features of this acoustic guitar is its spruce body. This is the most popular wood in guitars. It has a sweet, smooth, and all-rounder tone, making it an excellent pick for novices. The volume and the projection are also nice, especially considering its price.

2. Mahogany Neck

The neck is made of mahogany, which is another exceptional wood type in top-notch guitars. It is a dense material, which makes the neck more durable. In turn, it minimizes the likelihood of warping. Despite being dense, however, it does not add excessive weight to the guitar. It also has open pores that absorb vibration.

3. C-shaped Neck

Aside from the material, another important neck attribute in acoustic guitars is the shape. In the case of the Cordoba C1, it is C-shaped. It is the most common neck profile. It has an oval profile that most people will be comfortable playing with, which is also why it is a great pick for beginners.

4. Gloss Polyurethane Finish

For most people, a guitar’s finish is important because it impacts aesthetics. However, it does more than that. It also protects the guitar against deposits of dirt and debris. It makes it more resistant to environmental changes. Without the finish, the main material is easily prone to damage. This guitar has a gloss polyurethane finish, which looks good while being protective at the same time.

5. Savarez Cristal Corum String

The guitar has high tension strings, making them quite stiff at first. Once you get used to it, however, you will be comfortable with them. It produces more energy into the soundboard, which also makes the sound louder.

6. Adjustable Truss Rod

One feature that you will find in other Cordoba guitars, it also has an adjustable truss rod. The latter means that the neck will offer a lifetime of stability. This way, you can customize how much the neck bows.

7. Pau Ferro Fingerboard

Pau Ferro has been one of the most popular materials when it comes to fingerboard assemblage. Compared to rosewood, the density is tighter. As a result, the fingerboard absorbs fewer frequencies.

8. Standard Gig Bag

It is also a good thing that your purchase will come with a gig bag. The latter protects the guitar against dust, dirt, humidity, and other external elements that speed up wear. Not to mention, it also makes it easier to carry the guitar around.

Again, what does the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar offer? If you’re a beginner on a budget, you should take a look at the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar, a Spanish-style string instrument. It is lightweight with a mahogany neck finished with gloss polyurethane. You can choose between two versions–full size and ¾ size, both of which give excellent performance.

Specs of the Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar

If you are thinking of buying the C1 acoustic guitar, take note that two main models are available. The main difference is their size – one is a full size, and the other is a ¾ size. Hence, they also have different specs. Below is a quick rundown of the technical details of the two guitars:

Cordoba C1 Full-sized Acoustic Guitar Specs

When we speak of C1 guitars, this is the specific model that most people will have in mind. As a full-sized guitar, it is comfortable to hold. Here are its specs:

Overall Length: 997mm
Body Length: 489mm
Scale Length: 650mm
Number of Strings: 6
Nut String Spacing: 42mm
PSID: 12
Body Depth Upper Bout: 95mm
Lower Bout Width: 371mm
Upper Bout Width: 286mm
Waist Width: 241mm
Total Frets: 19
Neck Thickness First Fret: 21mm
Neck Thickness Ninth Fret: 23mm
Soundboard Thickness: 2.4mm
Soundboard Diameter: 84mm
Tuning Machine Ratio: 14:1

Cordoba C1 ¾ Size Classical Guitar Specs

If you want something smaller and easier to handle, this is the perfect size for you. Here are its specs:

Overall Length: 953mm
Body Length: 457mm
Scale Length: 615mm
Number of Strings: 6
Nut String Spacing: 40mm
PSID: 12
Body Depth Upper Bout: 85mm
Lower Bout Width: 340mm
Upper Bout Width: 260mm
Waist Width: 219mm
Total Frets: 19
Neck Thickness First Fret: 21mm
Neck Thickness Ninth Fret: 23mm
Soundboard Thickness: 2.4mm
Soundboard Diameter: 84mm
Tuning Machine Ratio: 14:1

Pros and Cons of the Cordoba C1 Guitar

Undecided if you should buy this guitar or go for something else? To help you decide, let us weigh the good and the bad.

Pros

Below are some of the most compelling reasons to choose Cordoba C1 for a student guitar:

1. A Great Choice for Beginners

The best thing about the C1 guitar is that it is for beginners. If you know nothing about playing guitars, this instrument is a great way to start. The company specifically made it to encourage aspiring musicians.

2. Affordable

One of the things that make it an ideal option for beginners is its price. There are a lot of cheaper alternatives, but given its features, the cost is reasonable. If you do not want to spend a lot but are unwilling to sacrifice quality and performance, this acoustic guitar is worth considering.

3. Lightweight and Comfortable

You will encounter many problems when learning how to play the guitar, such as holding the instrument. For easy handling, the guitar must be lightweight. And this is exactly what you can expect from Cordoba C1, which also makes it comfortable. Even when you are studying for hours, the weight of the instrument will never be a problem.

4. Has an Exceptional Sound

Many people might have second thoughts in buying an affordable guitar, thinking that the sound is inferior. However, this instrument has incredible sound despite being a low-end model. It has a full and rich sound, unlike others that are loud and out of tune. The timbre of this guitar will inspire you to play and keep on learning.

5. Made Using Good Materials

At its price, many may be doubtful about its quality. Nonetheless, looking at its overall construction, I can say that it uses exceptional materials. From the saddle to the neck, it has top-notch components that are reflective of longevity.

6. Available in Two Sizes

Another good thing about this guitar is that you will have two options when it comes to sizes. The full-sized guitar is the more popular option. However, if you are looking for something smaller to match your style and needs, there is also a ¾ size available.

Cons of the Cordoba C1

There are also some potential problems, including those I will discuss below, despite the good things:

1. Fret Edges Are Sharp

The frets have sharp metal edges, so be careful when you are playing. They can accidentally cut your fingers if you aren’t cautious! A quick fix is to sand the edges so that they will be smoother.

2. Bridge Can Be Prone to Splitting

As an economical guitar, we do not expect much when it comes to its durability. However, it is frustrating that the bridge has poor construction, which is prone to splitting.

Conclusion – Cordoba C1 Acoustic Guitar

Are you looking for your first guitar? The Cordoba C1 is one of the top options to consider. You can choose from the full size or ¾ size. Regardless, you can expect that both are lightweight and user-friendly. It has an ergonomic shape that makes it comfortable to play, especially when learning the basics.

Some of the key features of this acoustic guitar include the spruce top, C-shaped mahogany neck, and gloss polyurethane finish. It is made using exceptional materials while being economical.

Plus, it resonates a warm tone, which is quite good considering its price point. Nonetheless, there are also some problems, such as the sharp frets and the easy splitting of the bridge.